Chapter 42: Reality (11)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 42: Reality (11)
After leaving the motel, we made our way to a tall, nearby building. Inside, people were gathered in small groups.
"Are you... from the rescue team?"
A weary-looking middle-aged woman approached us, her eyes filled with hope.
"No... but don't worry. The Association will send a rescue team soon."
Im Hwa-yeon reassured the woman.
"...Okay."
The woman sat back down, her face etched with disappointment. The others around her wore similar expressions, their anxiety palpable as they faced an uncertain end to this crisis.
Im Hwa-yeon and I went up to the building's rooftop. The city below was a devastating sight. Buildings were destroyed and burning everywhere, and black smoke blanketed the sky.
"Haa... This is more serious than I thought."
"What's the plan now?"
"First, we need to find a way to contact our guild or the Association outside the barrier..."
"How are you going to do that?"
"Normal communications are probably all blocked... The barrier is cutting off all signals."
Im Hwa-yeon reached into her pocket and pulled something out.
"I have a special communication device, but..."
A device smaller than her palm rested in her hand.
"This is an emergency communicator issued by the Association. It's probably too small to get a signal through."
"So if we find something bigger,"
"We should be able to make contact. If I remember correctly, there's a large transmitter at the broadcasting station."
Im Hwa-yeon pointed to the broadcasting station visible in the distance. A tall transmission tower stood against the sky.
"Wouldn't it be better to just wait for the Association's support to arrive?"
"We have to move, even in this situation. If this is a terrorist attack involving an S-rank barrier user, just sitting around is a problem. If the Association doesn't get here in time, we could die without being able to do anything."
She was right. It was risky, but worth a try.
Just then, another explosion echoed from afar. Along with the seemingly endless blasts, a pillar of red fire shot up, splitting the sky.
We looked at each other with grim expressions.
"Let's go."
I followed Im Hwa-yeon. As we moved, I spoke to her.
"What if those Twilight's Fang bastards, or whatever they're called, have already taken over the broadcasting station?"
"...I hadn't considered that."
She paused for a moment, lost in thought.
"You're right, there's a high chance they've already seized it. It's the only way to contact the outside world."
"Then it's too dangerous."
"Let's just check out the situation around the station for now."
We started moving again, using as much cover as possible to stay out of sight.
We moved quietly between buildings.
"We're taking a big detour, so it's taking longer than I thought."
She was right. Going straight there would have been quick, but we were taking a roundabout path to avoid being seen, which took more time.
"We have to do it this way. If we went straight, we'd be spotted immediately."
We moved slowly, hiding behind buildings and scanning our surroundings. So far, we had successfully avoided the enemy's eyes.
That's when I felt it. My aura sense picked up a person's movement. I didn't feel any killing intent, just someone following us at a fixed distance.
"Hwa-yeon, someone's tailing us."
"How many do you think?"
Im Hwa-yeon asked in a low voice.
"I only sense one person for now."
We stood back-to-back, guarding our surroundings.
At that moment, I suddenly felt a presence on the rooftop.
"Rooftop."
As I raised my Japanese sword toward the roof and took a stance, Im Hwa-yeon immediately prepared to attack.
"W-wait! I'm not an enemy!"
A trembling voice came from the rooftop. A man appeared with both hands raised.
"Mister Go Deok-bae?"
Im Hwa-yeon seemed to recognize him. The red flame in her hand slowly died down.
"That's right! Go Deok-bae of the Strong Ones!"
He slowly made his way down toward us, still keeping his hands up.
"You know him?"
"Yeah, we've been on a few missions together. His ability is stealth. Though I think he calls it 'Traceless'."
While Im Hwa-yeon was explaining, Go Deok-bae reached us. He was a middle-aged man in an ordinary suit.
"Phew, you scared me. I thought you were about to attack."
Go Deok-bae sighed in relief, rubbing his chest.
"That's because you were secretly following us, Mister."
Im Hwa-yeon shot back coldly.
"Never mind that, how did you sense my presence?"
"It wasn't me. He's the one who found you."
His gaze turned to me.
"Well now, look at this handsome fellow. Nice to meet you. I'm Go Deok-bae, from the Strong Ones."
He offered his hand with a friendly smile.
"Hello. I'm Jin... Kim Woo-jin."
I shook his hand and introduced myself. He seemed quite intrigued that I had detected his ability.
"Anyway, why were you following us, Mister?"
"There are some criminals hiding around here. I was just approaching cautiously."
"So, why did you approach us?"
"To get you to join our side. We've got a group of people who can fight. Want to join us?"
Im Hwa-yeon fell into thought at Go Deok-bae's offer. Having allies was good news, but it was a decision that required careful consideration.
"How many people have gathered?"
"Right now, including me, we have six B-ranks, two C-ranks, and about twenty-five others below that. And if an A-rank like you joins, Hwa-yeon, we'll be a pretty formidable force."
At his words, Im Hwa-yeon glanced at me. She seemed to be wondering what to do about our plan to head to the broadcasting station.
"We were on our way to the broadcasting station."
"The broadcasting station? That place is a total mess right now."
Go Deok-bae's expression darkened instantly. He clearly knew something.
"Is something going on there?"
At my question, he scanned the area and lowered his voice.
"Those Twilight's Fang bastards have taken it over. They were installing something there."
Im Hwa-yeon's face hardened. Our worst-case scenario had become a reality.
"Hwa-yeon. Let's join them for now."
"Yeah, listen to your boyfriend here and join us."
"Wh-who's a boyfriend?!"
Im Hwa-yeon snapped, her face turning red. The tense atmosphere shattered in an instant.
"Huh? Am I wrong? The way you two were exchanging glances, the whole vibe..."
"Shut up! Let's just go join them!"
Im Hwa-yeon quickened her pace. Go Deok-bae just kept his knowing smile as he led the way.
"This way. Everyone's gathered in a nearby underground shopping arcade."
Go Deok-bae led us, moving cautiously and staying alert as we went.
"Move quietly, just in case any of those Twilight's Fang bastards are around."
We moved through the ruined streets, our nerves on edge with every distant explosion.
"We just need to go through that entrance over there."
Go Deok-bae pointed to the half-collapsed entrance of an underground shopping arcade. We followed him carefully down into the darkness.
Once we were downstairs, I saw there were more people than I expected.
"Mister, there are a lot more people here than I thought."
"Yeah, most of them are civilians. But they're not just sitting around. Everyone's doing what they can to get through this."
About a hundred people were gathered in the arcade. Some were treating the injured, while others were huddled over a map, discussing something.
"The people gathered over there are the combatants."
Go Deok-bae pointed to a group of about twenty people off to one side.
Among them, I saw a familiar blonde woman. It was the blonde I'd met and fucked at the club.
Just as our eyes met, the corners of her eyes crinkled as she smiled and walked over to me.
"Well, well, darling. Fancy seeing you here."
She smiled as if she were happy to see me.
I could feel Im Hwa-yeon's gaze sharpen as she looked back and forth between us.
"Darling...?"
Im Hwa-yeon muttered uncomfortably. The blonde, oblivious to her reaction, grabbed my arm.
"Honestly, you have no manners. How could you be so cold as to just leave a girl all by herself like that?"
"Haha… I had an appointment."
"Why are you suddenly being so formal, darling? Talk to me casually, like last night."
At her words, Im Hwa-yeon's expression hardened even more.
A small flame flickered in Im Hwa-yeon's hand before vanishing. The blonde didn't seem to notice and continued to cling to my arm.
"What's this, Do-eun? You know this guy?"
Go Deok-bae cut in.
"Yes, we had a... special encounter last night."
Jeon Do-eun said with a meaningful smile, still holding my arm.
"Ah, I see. Anyway, this is Miss Im Hwa-yeon from Halcyon. She's a famous A-rank fire-type user these days."
"Oh, it's a pleasure to meet someone so famous. I'm Jeon Do-eun. A B-rank electric-type user from the Association."
Jeon Do-eun spoke with a bright smile, but she didn't let go of my arm.
"Hello. I'm Im. Hwa. Yeon."
A chill emanated from Im Hwa-yeon's voice. Her cold gaze was fixed on Jeon Do-eun's hand gripping my arm.
"Haha…, everyone, come over and say hello."
Trying to change the mood, Go Deok-bae looked at me and gestured with his eyes as if to say, 'Do something.'
The tense standoff between the two women was drawing the intrigued gazes of the people around them.
Just then, a man with sharp eyes stepped forward from the group of ability users.
"A pleasure to meet you both. I am Kim Jeong-hu, a B-rank ability user. I can manipulate shadows at will."
He greeted them politely.
"Im Hwa-yeon, from Halcyon."
"Kim Woo-jin, a physical-type ability user."
"Thank you both for joining us. I'm temporarily in charge of the combatants here."
His calm tone and demeanor eased the tense atmosphere.
Following his lead, the other ability users introduced themselves one by one, briefly explaining their abilities.
While we were getting the introductions, Jeon Do-eun spoke to me from behind in a low voice.
"Darling."
"Miss Jeon Do-eun?"
"Oh, just call me Do-eun."
At her words, I glanced over at Im Hwa-yeon. She was talking with Go Deok-bae and Kim Jeong-hu.
"Do-eun?"
"I like it when you say my name like that. And here I thought you were pretending not to know me because you really had a girlfriend."
"Sorry. And she's not my girlfriend. If you say that in front of her, there'll be a fight."
"Oh my, the way she looks at you is anything but ordinary. Was I wrong? Then maybe there's room for me to squeeze in?"
"Let's talk about that later, just the two of us."
"Alright. By the way, darling."
"Yeah?"
"You did this, didn't you? Thanks to you, I ranked up to B-class."
She whispered, moving closer and stroking her lower abdomen.
"Did what…?"
"Are you playing dumb? The Aether. It increased like crazy after I had sex with you."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Still playing innocent?"
She seemed completely convinced that I was the one who had increased her Aether.
Since it seemed like I was already caught, I decided to just admit it. Besides, I could see the favor in her eyes.
I moved closer to Jeon Do-eun's body.
"What if I did?"
I whispered into her ear.
"I knew it. This is a secret, right?"
"That's right. You'll keep it a secret, won't you?"
"Of course. If people found out you have an ability like this, you'd be dissected immediately or kidnapped and milked for the rest of your life."
"I'm counting on you."
"Don't worry. But in return, you have to meet me often and use my pussy, okay?"
"Alright. And I'll be sure to fill your pussy up with plenty of cum."
While I was talking with Jeon Do-eun, Im Hwa-yeon, who seemed to have finished her conversation with Go Deok-bae and Kim Jeong-hu, gestured for me to come over.
"Your lover's calling. Go on."
Jeon Do-eun gave my ass a couple of pats, sending me over to Im Hwa-yeon.